Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPE’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Dahlia  plant named ‘BKDAMPE’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves; and large semi-double inflorescences with red purple-colored ray florets.

Botanical designation: Dahlia hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘BKDAMPE’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Dahlia plant, botanically known as Dahlia hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘BKDAMPE’.

The new Dahlia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new sturdy container Dahlia plants that have a freely basal branching habit, and large inflorescences with attractive ray floret coloration.

The new Dahlia plant originated from an open-pollination in March, 2010 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands of a proprietary selection of Dahlia hybrida identified as code number 4001907, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Dahlia hybrida as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Dahlia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in October, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Dahlia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands since January, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Dahlia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Dahlia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘BKDAMPE’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘BKDAMPE’ as a new and distinct Dahlia plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely basal branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.     -   3. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Large semi-double inflorescences with red purple-colored ray         florets that are dark red towards the base.

Plants of the new Dahlia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in ray floret color as plants of the female parent         selection have pink-colored ray florets.     -   3. Plants of the new Dahlia and the female parent selection         differ in inflorescence form as plants of the female parent         selection have decorative inflorescences.

Plants of the new Dahlia can be compared to plants of Dahlia hybrida ‘Dreamy Nights’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Dahlia differ from plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Dahlia have glossier leaves than plants of         ‘Dreamy Nights’.     -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Dahlia have more ray         florets than inflorescences of plants of ‘Dreamy Nights’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Dahlia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Dahlia plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘BKDAMPE’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘BKDAMPE’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and the following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in 12-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Dahlia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures ranged from 17° C. to 19° C. Plants were pinched one time and were eleven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. To induce inflorescence initiation and development, plants were grown under short nyctoperiod (long day) conditions. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dahlia hybrida ‘BKDAMPE’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Dahlia             hybrida identified as code number 4001907, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Dahlia             hybrida, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 16 days at             temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 19 days at             temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 21 days             at temperatures ranging from 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 23 days             at temperatures ranging from 19° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white to light brown in color, actual color of the             roots is dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizers, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots; tuber development has not been observed on plants of             the new Dahlia.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Broadly upright and mounding plant             form; overall plant shape, flattened globular; freely basal             branching habit with about four primary branches developing             per plant; inflorescences held above the foliar plane on             strong peduncles; bushy and dense growth habit; pinching is             not required but will improve branching habit; moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 17.4             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 22.1             cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 31.9 cm.         -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 12.9 cm. Diameter: About             6.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.7 cm. Aspect: Primary             branches are mostly erect; secondary branches, about 30°             from primary branch axis. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, mostly glabrous with sparse             pubescence at internodes; glossy. Color, developing: Close             to 143A, slightly tinged with close to N200A; internodes,             close to 143A. Color, developed: Close to 143A, moderately             to strongly tinged with close to N200A; internodes, close to             143A. -   Leaf & leaflet description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves opposite and compound with three to five             leaflets.         -   Length, leaves.—About 11 cm.         -   Length, terminal leaflets.—About 7.7 cm.         -   Width, leaves.—About 12.3 cm.         -   Width, terminal leaflets.—About 4.7 cm.         -   Shape, leaves in overall outline.—Broadly ovate.         -   Shape, leaflets.—Ovate to broadly ovate.         -   Apex, leaflets.—Acute to slightly apiculate.         -   Base, leaflets.—Short attenuate.         -   Margin, leaflets.—Coarsely serrate to dentate.         -   Venation pattern, leaflets.—Pinnate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface, leaflets.—Slightly             rugose, glabrous; slightly velvety; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface, leaflets.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Color.—Developing leaflets, upper surface: Close to NN137A.             Developing leaflets, lower surface: Close to 147B. Fully             expanded leaflets, upper surface: Darker than between NN137A             and 147A; venation, close to 191A. Fully expanded leaflets,             lower surface: Close to 146B; venation, close to 146A to             146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 5.9 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Height:             About 3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong to strong. Texture             and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 144A tinged with             close to N200A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Semi-double inflorescence form             with ray and disc florets forming acropetally on a             receptacle; inflorescences positioned above and beyond the             foliar plane on strong peduncles; inflorescences face             upright to outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 36             inflorescences developing per plant.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flowering response and flowering period.—Early flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 72 days after planting;             plants flower continuously during the autumn into the winter             in The Netherlands.         -   Post-production longevity.—Inflorescences maintain good             substance for about ten days on the plant; inflorescences             persistent.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 9 mm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Color: Close to 143A; towards the             apex, tinged with close to 59B. Inflorescence size:             Diameter: About 8.4 cm. Depth (height): About 5.2 cm. Disc             diameter: About 2.5 cm. Receptacles: Height: About 1.5 mm.             Diameter: About 9 mm. Shape: Flattened and curved. Color:             Close to 145A. Ray florets: Quantity per inflorescence and             arrangement: About 60 arranged in about four whorls. Length:             About 3.6 cm. Width: About 2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:             Broadly acute to shallowly retuse. Base: Acute. Margin:             Entire. Aspect: Upright to roughly horizontal and eventually             downward; moderately concave. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Color:             When opening, upper surface: Close to N74A and towards the             base, darker than 59A. When opening, lower surface: Close to             N74A and towards the base, slightly darker than N79C. Fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 67B and towards the base,             darker than between 46A and 59A; venation, same as lamina,             close to 67B and towards the base, darker than between 46A             and 59A; colors do not change with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 67B to 67C and towards the             base, close to 60B; venation, same as lamina, close to 67B             to 67C and towards the base, close to 60B; colors do not             change with development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About 45 massed at the center of the inflorescence in about             five spiral whorls. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             6 mm. Shape: Tubular, elongated; apices, acute. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close             to between 187A and 203A. Mid-section: Close to between 46A             and 185A. Base: Close to 145C to 145D. Color, fully opened,             inner and outer surfaces: Apex: Close to between 187A and             203A. Mid-section: Close to between 46A and 185A. Base:             Close to 145C to 145D.         -   Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement:             About six arranged in about two whorls. Length: About             1.4 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Bluntly             acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; moderately             glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower             surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to NN137A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 6.4 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2 mm. Strength: Strong.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; moderately glossy.             Color: Close to 143B; proximally, tinged with close to             between 147A and 203A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium, present on disc florets             only: Quantity per floret: About five. Filament length:             About 3 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther shape:             Narrowly oblong. Anther length: About 5 mm. Anther color:             Close to 17B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: Close             to 24A. Gynoecium, present on disc florets only: Quantity             per floret: One. Pistil length: About 1.1 cm. Style length:             About 7 mm. Style color: Close to 150C. Stigma diameter:             About 6 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color:             Close to 17A to 17B. Ovary color: Close to 145D. Seeds and             fruits: Seed and fruit development have not been observed on             plants of the new Dahlia. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Dahlia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Dahlia     plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Dahlia have been observed     to tolerate high temperatures of about 35° C. and to be suitable for     USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Dahlia plant named ‘BKDAMPE’ as illustrated and described. 